International Food Bloggers Auction for Japan

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[dropcap3 color=”green”]T[/dropcap3]he world suddenly becomes smaller when we are faced with devastation. Oceans become puddles, miles shrink to inches, language barriers disappear. Our hearts and our minds instantly connect with images conveyed on our screens, and we realize how quickly life can change. I know there have been many efforts, big and small, to assist in the recent disaster in Japan. We all do what we can to help, and every little bit counts. Whether you text message donations to the Red Cross, or are fortunate to be able to contribute generously, it is comforting to know that people around the globe are trying their best.

It may not be much, but I am eager to help in two projects that will benefit the relief efforts in Japan. I will be able to tell you more about the other project in time, but for today, I wanted to tell you about the International Food Blogger’s Auction for Japan.

The brainchild of the talented Asha Pagdiwalla of Fork Spoon Knife, this project gathers a small group of food bloggers from all around the world. We are from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and India. Our hope is to harness our passion for food to help in our own modest way. I do hope you consider supporting us, this project, and the larger efforts at hand.

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In a land far away, the tremors have yet to subside, the Earth has still not stopping shaking and continues to heave ever so often. Yet, the people from the Land of the Rising Sun, have already started picking up the pieces and putting them together, displaying enormous courage in the face of despair to reach out and help others even when they have little themselves. This display of true spirit and common bond cannot but fail to inspire and move us.

In an effort to lend a helping hand (humble as it may be) and in support of the perseverance of human spirit, a small group of international food bloggers have come together to put their passion for food to a charitable cause. The International Food Bloggers Auction for Japan is a contributive effort from these bloggers to raise funds for the Japanese Red Cross Society towards their disaster relief efforts.

Each blogger has pledged an item that will be auctioned to be sold to the highest bidder. Details of the pledges are included below. The auction will run live from March 23, 2011 to April 10, 2011, during which period, readers may bid on as many items as they wish. Once the auction closes and the highest bidder is identified, the person will receive the item that he/she bid for and the bid amount will be donated to Japanese Red Cross in entirety.

Participating Bloggers and Items Pledged

• Aparna of My Diverse Kitchen – 2 boxes each of a dozen assorted Eggless Decorated Sugar Cookies to 2 of the highest bidders
• Asha of Fork Spoon Knife – Breakfast Basket with Homemade Granola with Fruits and Nuts, Orange Marmalade and Strawberry Jam
• Asha of Fork Spoon Knife – Peanut Goodies Basket, sponsored by Peanut Butter & Co. Hamper includes 1 large picnic basket with 8 jars of a variety of peanut butters from Dark Chocolate Dreams to Cinnamon Raisin Swirl, 3 jars of fruit preserves and jelly, 1 jar of peanut pretzels and a Peanut Cookbook
• Liren of Kitchen Confidante – Afternoon Tea Basket, inspired by my husband’s family who spent 5 years in Japan. It will have a freshly baked loaf of our family’s Buttermilk Banana Bread, a tin of Samovar Green Tea, and a variety of sweets and local goodies from the Bay Area.
  
• Simone of Junglefrog Cooking – Traditional Dutch Basket with many Dutch food items like stroopwafels, Dutch Cheese and much more and also Muider schipperbitter which is a typical Dutch alcoholic drink
• Trissa of Trissalicious – Signed copies of cookbooks from Australian cooking icons Maggie Beer, Margaret Fulton and Stephanie Alexander
• Vanille of At Down Under – Kiwi Basket with 1 pot of NZ organic Manuka honey (J.Friend & Co – 160g), 1 pot of NZ organic Kamahi honey (J.Friend & Co – 160g), 1 bottle of Feijoa and  limeblossom juiced tea (Teza – 325ml) and a reusable shopping bag (Ooid Design – 100% Organic cotton)

Rules of the Auction

1. Auction Period: March 23, 2011 to April 10, 2011.
2. The auction is open to all readers across the globe. Availability of items is as indicated in the Auction Bid Form.
3. Bid entries are to be made using the Auction Bid Form.
4. Bidding can be for one or more items. Multiple bids from the same bidder will be accepted and highest bid will be taken into account. Minimum and High bids for each item will be made available at the end of each day.
5. Auction closes at 12pm EST, April 10, 2011. Highest bidders and bid amounts will be revealed in a post by April 12, 2011.
6. The winners will be asked to transfer the pledged amount through PayPal, which, will then be donated to the Japanese Red Cross Society via Google Crisis Response.
7. Winners will receive their items within two weeks of the reveal post announcing the winners.

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